The Nissan DeltaWing
The Nissan DeltaWing has been declared by many to be the current generation’s most revolutionary and exciting motorsport project, and that was before it could participate in the LeMans race this year.
Popular Science magazine has named it as their “2012 Best of What’s New” products and innovations edition.
The BatMobile-looking machine looks more like a stealth fighter on wheels than a racing car, but it does represent a major innovation in motor sport.
It has half the weight, half the power as well as half the drag of a Le Mans Prototype sports car, and it also consumes about half the fuel as well.
Thanks to its four-inch-wide front tyres, 1.6-litre engine and 567kg weight, the car can reach speeds of 320 km/h, which differs greatly from the usual 600HP engines needed by standard Le Mans racers to get to the same speeds.
The key of the entire vehicle is the very advanced and hugely-efficient Nissan 1.6 engine, as well as the fact that the entire vehicle was built with the initial aim of completing the 24 Hours of Le Mans by using just half the fuel and half the tyres of contemporary sports prototypes.
Even if it did not fare that well at its first Le Mans race, the Nissan DeltaWing has recently finished the grueling Petit Le Mans race in the US – despite starting from the back of the 42-car grid, the car managed to beat the 1000-mile distance and placing fifth – not bad at all.
The Nissan DeltaWing will be on display at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, from the 30th November to the 9th of December.
